18 people die on January’s roads across the island of Ireland

Provisional statistics suggest 18 people have died across the island of Ireland in the month of January.

Gardaí: ‘Horrific death toll’

An Garda Síochána released a statement on 28 January following ten deaths on the state’s roads in three days.

Chief Superintendent Finbarr Murphy, Garda National Roads Policing Bureau said An Garda Síochána is ‘deeply saddened by the horrific death toll on Irish road over the past week’.

“While we welcome the reduction of fatalities that we have witnessed over the past two years, events over the past week demonstrate that we cannot afford to be complacent in any manner and I appeal to all roads users to be extra vigilant – in particular on dark evenings and while using unlit or poorly lit roads. Be safe, be seen, be careful and be on the alert for other road users.”

Garda Roads Policing (Pic: InsideIreland.ie)

Gardaí confirmed that to date in 2019, 634 drivers have been arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, three of whom were arrested for drug driving offences at one checkpoint in Cavan in the past week.

“We will also continue to work with our partners in ‘GoSafe’ to tackle the dangers associated with speed. The development of the safety camera zones has had an enormous impact on safety of our roads. This combined with An Garda Síochána’s own speed enforcement activities continues to form a key part of our strategy to reduce road deaths. To date in 2019, 2,920,553 motorists have been monitored by the Safety Camera network and while the majority of drivers have been compliant, 9,343 have been detected speeding.”

January Road Fatalities across island in Ireland

Four Killed in Co Donegal

Four people in their 20s died following a single car crash on a local road near Magheraroarty, Gortahork Co. Donegal on 27 January.

Gardaí said Emergency Services were called to the scene shortly before 9pm. All the occupants were pronounced dead at the scene a short time later.

Gardaí investigating the incident are appealing for witnesses to contact them. Anyone with information is asked to contact Milford Garda Station on 074-9153060 or the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111.

Co Kilkenny

A man died when the car he was driving left the road and hit a pole at Coolcullen, Co Kilkenny on Sunday, January 27.

The driver was the only occupant in the car.

Investigating Gardaí are appealing for any witnesses who may have travelled the road or can assist them to contact Castlecomer Garda Station on 056-4440650, the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111 or any Garda Station.

Co Down

A woman died when she was struck by a car in Co Down on 26 January.

The incident happened at the Windmill Road junction with the Donaghadee Road in Bangor, around 7.15pm.

Police are appealing for any witnesses or anyone who may have dashcam footage from the scene to contact them.

Co Monaghan

Two people died when the car they were in left the R213 road and ended up in marsh land near the Monaghan/Armagh border on 25 January.

Gardaí said emergency services were called to the scene shortly before 6pm at Killyneill Cross, Co Monaghan. The occupants of the car, a man and woman in their 70s, were taken from the car and pronounced dead at the scene a short time later.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Gardaí at Monaghan 047-77200 or the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111.

Co Kildare

A man died from injuries sustained when he was struck by a 4×4 vehicle on the Dublin Road, Monasterevin, Co Kildare on 24 January.

Gardaí said the incident happened around 6:50pm, and the victim was treated at the scene by emergency services personnel but that he died a short time later. The driver of the 4×4 was uninjured.

Gardaí are appealing for witnesses to contact them at Kildare Garda Station 045-527730 or the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111.

Fatal Traffic Collision M50 Dublin
A woman died when the car she was driving in was involved in a collision with two other cars and a lorry on the M50 slip road at Junction 5, Finglas, Co Dublin on 24 January.

Gardaí in Finglas said emergency services were called to the scene of a multi vehicle collision shortly before 11:30am. The driver of the second car was taken to Connolly hospital by ambulance for treatment, but his condition is not thought to be life threatening. Minor damage was also caused to a lorry and a third car in the incident.Images
Investigating Gardaí said they are aware of images taken at the crash site currently being circulated online and are asking people not to share or circulate the images out of respect to the family of the deceased and those involved in the collision.

Investigating Gardaí are appealing for information, they are particularly appealing to anyone who was travelling on the M50 from Junction 6 (Blanchardstown) and Junction 5 (Finglas) between 11:15am and 11:30am to contact them. Anyone with information is asked to contact Finglas Garda Station 01-6667500 or the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111.

Co Galway

A woman died when the car she was a passenger in was involved in a collision with another vehicle on the R446 at Kilrickle, Loughrea, Co Galway on 24 January.

The victim was removed by ambulance to Portiuncula Hospital, Ballinasloe where she died a short time later. The other occupants of the vehicles involved suffered minor injuries and were also taken to Portiuncula Hospital for treatment.

Investigating Gardaí are appealing for witnesses to come forward. Anyone with information is asked to contact Loughrea Garda Station 091 842870 or the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111.

Co Waterford
A pedestrian died when he was involved in a crash with a truck at Killossera, Dungarvan, Co Waterford on 20 January. The 60 year old was pronounced dead at the scene. The male driver of the truck was uninjured.

Investigating Gardaí are appealing for witnesses around 8.15pm on Sunday night to come forward. Anyone with information is asked to contact Dungarvan Garda Station 058-48600 or the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111.

Co Down
An 80-year-old woman died on 18 January from injuries sustained in a road traffic collision in Co Down three days before.

Jean Osborne was struck by a vehicle on Plantation Street, Killyleagh on Tuesday 15 January, and was later taken to hospital, where she later died as a result of her injuries.

Police have appealed for anyone who witnessed the crash or who may have dashcam footage of the incident to come forward.

Co Leitrim

A woman died when the car she was driving left the Castlecara Road, at Carrick on Shannon, Leitrim, on 17 January.Investigating Gardaí are appealing for any witnesses who may have travelled the road or can assist them to contact Carrick-on-Shannon Garda Station on 071 – 9650510, the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111 or any Garda Station.

Co Tipperary
A 19-year-old woman died when the car she was driving collided with a tree on the N24 at Ballydrehid, Cahir, Co Tipperary, on Tuesday 15 January.

Investigating Gardaí are appealing for any witnesses who may have travelled the road or can assist them to contact Cahir Garda Station on 052 – 7445630, the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111 or any Garda Station.

Co Cork
A man in his 70s died when the 4×4 vehicle he was driving left the road on the R585 in Co Cork on 12 January.

It is understood the vehicle struck a ditch at Shanlaragh near Dunmanway, shortly before 11am on Saturday morning.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Clonakilty Garda Station 023-8821570 or the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111.

Co Donegal
A woman in her 30s died when she was hit by a car at Chapel Road, Dungloe, Co Donegal on 10 January.

A 6 year old girl was also injured and was taken to University Hospital Letterkenny.

The driver of the car was not injured.

Co Kerry
A woman died after the car she was driving was involved in a crash with a truck at Woodford, Co Kerry around 2kms from Listowel on 07 January.

Gardaí said Emergency Services attended the scene shortly after 3pm on Monday afternoon. The driver was pronounced dead at the scene and no one else was in the car. The driver of the truck was uninjured.

Investigating Gardaí are appealing for witnesses to come forward. Anyone with information is asked to contact Listowel Garda Station 068-50820 or the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111.

2019 Fatalities

By 31 January, provisional statistics from An Garda Síochána suggest that sixteen people died on the roads across the State so far that month.

The death in Co Down on 18 January was the first death on roads in Northern Ireland this year. Two people died on the roads in the North, according to provisional statistics.

2018 Road Deaths across the island

According to provisional statistics from the Gardaí, a total of 150 people lost their lives on roads in the State in 2018 as a result of 142 fatal crashes.

PSNI statistics provisionally suggest that 55 people died in Northern Ireland in 2018, meaning provisionally, 205 people died on roads across the island in 2018.

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